The Weekend

This weekend started out with the prospect of the classic Koppenberg race on Sunday. So Saturday was spent prepping, getting a preride of the course in, including the short yet steep climb. For those who are not familiar with the race its a 5.5 circuit, 8 laps, 50% dirt, with the famous dirt climb.
To say that it was windy during the Saturday ride would lack the true description of how bad it was, but it was windy and the mountains showed something building up.

Sunday morning camp with the readiness to race in cold and wet dirt but the call came that the race had been canceled and a look outside showed a layer of snow on the ground. Oh well, time to head to Denver then for dim sum. This means lots of little food with a lot of good friends. Doug tried the mystery meat, we knew it was some part of a pig, but it really could have been ANY part.

A small portion of the aftermath.

After the gorging there was an adventure into the Asian market, and I have to say I love this place. On the list of the things that you normally don't see in an American supermarket is the row of whole fish out in the open for picking.

Next in the day out in Denver we headed over to the Auto show. I was really looking forward to seeing the new Bullitt, but the line that wrapped around the convention center to just by a ticket to get in put a stop to that.

Good weekend, all it needed was a race, but time to get ready for the next one.

Parking In Denver

What?
So I can only park here for 1/4 of an hour.

Personal Snow Day

Well it snowed again last night, thats all I have to say about that.

I took today off work. One, cause I am tired of fighting stupid drivers in rush hour who can't drive in clear roads, only because there is some snow on the side of the road, and two, I have some other things to get done, such as taxes.

I also found time today to visit the Home Depot and found a white Bird of Paradise, which are rare and I had a good spot for it so, done, there it is.
Tomorrow will be my first day back to the bike after a solid week off. After work Pink and I are heading to Meridian. Should be fun, we'll see how it goes.

#1 Slacker = Me

It is again that time where I begin to wonder when the last time was that I updated, and since it has been over a week I figure its time to post again.

I race last weekend, TT on Saturday went well, but the crit on Sunday not so much. I got sick again after the TT and the showed through on the crit, lets just say it made its self physically present. So this week I've taken completely off the bike to try and get things back to normal. Then I got to thinking the last time I felt normal and you would have to rewind all the way back to Oct/Nov last year. The docs I've gone to see keep saying its just a little flu or cold and do nothing to really check if it could be something else.

I wish I was in Moab this weekend with everyone mountain biking, but I still don't have a mountain bike, thought I was getting one, but it hasn't showed up yet. Today I will be boken of my live hockey virginity. I've been told it will be an awesome game so it should be a good time.

High Grade

The snow storm that hit on Sunday was a reminder that winter isn't done with us yet, but it was also a good reminder to recover from the death march.

I took off work today since it was looking like it would be the only nice day this week. It was pretty windy so I headed down to Littleton to ride High Grade. It was a little less windy but after a few hours of repeats the winds picked up and the clouds rolled in. I figured that was a good stopping point.
The ride was a good one and training is picking up again as this weekend marks the first weekend of racing in Colorado. TT on Saturday and a Crit on Sunday. And so it begins.

Death March to Bring in March

I love the first warm days of the year. But I hate when they are followed up by snow the next day. But as for today it was 76degrees and we headed out for a death march. 10 of us rolled out of Golden and headed up Lookout for a nice warm up.
After Lookout we headed over to Evergreen and on up Squaw Pass where it soon became only four of us left, the usual suspects (Me, Hutch, Seth, and Joey)

After dropping into Idaho Springs we stopped for some snaks at Safeway and enjoyed the sun as much as we could.

Pinkerton's choice for refueling

After Idaho we headed for Floyd Hill, but the route to get there was a little lost under the snow.

But we forged on.

Floyd hill took us back to Lookout and back into Golden. Just under 6hrs, so now I am just sitting on the couch hoping the forcast for snow again tomorrow is wrong.

A Few Things I Have Noticed

1. Since when did the common Hello or Hi, get changed to "How's it going". But not just that, but they say that not expecting a response like "My day is great, how about you?", but rather expect the same "How's it going" in return.



2. The RTD buses are the reason for all traffic on 36 coming out of Denver. They come from the entrance ramp, merge into the right lane, then for no reason move into the left lane and stay there not even passing people, but going slower than the rest of the surrounding cars.



3. People don't like to look at each other in the eye when walking to and from work, but if two people do make eye contact, they give awekward smiles or nods.



4. Why people still go to McDonalds for lunch, when right next door, literally right next door, is a fresh soup and sandwich shop for the same price, but would still rather wait in line for a Big Mac.



5. A Starbucks on every corner in downtown Denver is still not enough. And even though all Starbucks closed yesterday after 5 to go through training on how to properly prepare drinks, today they still seemed to make them worse than ever, but its better than the free coffee in the office.



6. Music in the car on the way to and from work, and a small radio at your desk isn't enough anymore. People fill in that time on their walk from the car to the building with Ipods and keep them going with ear buds at the desk. This makes about 11 hrs of solid music everyday for some, I must be missing out on some damn good music.

Cubical Life

I walk past the Ritz every day to walk to work from where I park, and yesterday on the walk back to the car I noticed a sweet car parked out front, the Bentley GT Continental.

It got me thinking. I was coming from work, my little cubical haven. Everyone works at some point or another in some sort of cubical hell, just hoping to end up with that car in front of the Ritz. It will never happen, but most people work for that hope that maybe, just maybe one day they can have one.

More than likely for about 99.99% of cubicalites it will never happen. So why do people to it, I guess its the same reason people play the lottery, there is a chance. Yes, I am saying there's a chance. But I would rather have this.

And get this everyday as my cubical.

The Sickness, Again

Sickness has yet again taken hold of me. It sucks. Second time already this year which is usually my yearly average. I hope this means I have paid my dues for the rest of the year.

Time to break out the home remedies. Throw some lemon, honey, cloves, and cinnamon into some water and bring to a boil. Tastes horrible, but numbs the throat.

Now matter how much I try to stay away from the doctor and medicine I broke down already and got some meds and some good ole advil.
Time to head back to bed and try and get some good rest.

VOS Wrap Up

Well VOS has come and gone.

Stage II was the basic road race, a few laps with some hard parts to try and get a field separated, but it all held together to the very last few K.

Stage III was the crit. Got in a few little breaks but nothing stayed away longer than half a lap and it ended in a sprint.

Overall about 30th or so, I guess its a starting ground, next race its going to be time to move that placing up to the top 10's.


Me and Neven after the crit.

Thanks to Seth for bringing to my attention that one of my fellow races had the name of Mark-Paul Gosselaar. Think one of the best TV sitcoms, we all watched it growing up in my generation, screen name of Zach Morris, "Saved By The Bell". No stunt double here, it was really him, and I have to say he is a damn good racer. (But to all those wondering, yes I did beat him by 8 minutes overall)

VOS Stage 1

Well just a quick update. The TT was not great, at all. But really, what did I expect after not really riding the last 3 weeks and working 8-6 in D-Town. Oh well, I have got until Gila since we are not doing Redlands and San Dimas anymore, so no worry, its only February. Atleast that is what I keep telling myself.

VOS Day 1/4

6am to 9:30pm, only 15.5 hrs in the van to get to Phoenix. Then we had to stop for some food and our choice was a little place called Fajitas. It was Valenitine's Day night last night and this establishment hosted a fair share of couples out on a romantic dinner for some fajitas. All I can say more about this place is that we all left wishing that we all didn't get sick from the food that was already trying to leave us.

A good night sleep and now we are playing the waiting game for an un-named teammate to catch up to the rest of us. A good chance of rain today so all the more reason to ride a fast TT to get back to the dry van. The first man off is Brad at 12:57:30, and then me a short minute behind him. This should be fun.

Results later.

Okay, Okay

Again, sorry for the lack of updates. Working, trying to train, having a life, and finding time to sleep takes up most of my days lately.

I did manage to get the new TT bike built today and will have it out tomorrow for a spin to see how it feels and make that adjustments before leaving for Valley of the Sun on Thursday.

A camera is on its way to spice the blog back up, and with the season getting ready to start, more posts to come too, on a regular basis, I promise.

This Week

Well, a lot has happened in the last week so here it is.

First off he hit up the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo on Thursday night. It had been a long while since I had been to a rodeo, but remember, I am from Texas and have seen my fair share of them. However, Joey had never been, so we broke the city boy in and dragged him along. Good times were had by all.

Friday I started working as a contract worker with Flatiron Capital running life insurance models, I'll probably be there for the next few weeks being a 9-5 working man, but it does have its perks, like good money. It also has its downs, no real time to ride.

Yesterday the idea of a long ride got canceled due to the 80mph wind gusts in the Boulder area, so I sat on the trainer, again. But last night Seth had a pizza party down in D town, the usual gang plus some, lots of pizzas were made, and ate.

Today was a absolute beautiful day, 61 degrees, NO wind, clear skies. I got in 5 hours of up hill death marches. Needless to say I am one toasty man right now.

Just a few weeks to the first race of the year, Valley of the Sun.

Bonanza

I have to give big thanks to Scott, Pat, Leigh and the whole Rio crew for a great start to the year, and its only mid January.

So far in 2008 we have our bikes, had our team camp, and now gotten the 08 Sugoi Kits. I was just expecting a few jerseys and bibs but they always surprise me with more.

Back In CO

Oh yeah, thats right. I borrowed a mountain bike yesterady in Austin before getting on the plane and heading home. It was awesome. Nothing like a single speed 29er to rip up Walnut Creek.
So time to catch up on the pictures from the last week. Yes they are still just phone pics, but they work.

In Liberty Hill, TX if you ever get hungery out on the ride you can stop on in and grab a burger, hotdog, or corndog.........

Then you can take it to the deep fryer right next to it to make it a little healthier.

The Rio camp went well, it would have been better for me if I wasn't sick, but I still got the miles in and thats what matters.

A great marketing tool by the Rio, in the bed of the truck are neon signs that flip up. Yes, we light them up and drove around downtown Austin.

All in all it was great down there, good weather and great roads, but now I'm back in CO looking at running away to a warmer climate again to keep the legs going for the upcoming year. Time to get serious.

End of One, Start of Another

Fiday was the end of the Team Rio Camp for me. It was just an easy day with some team pics in the afternoon. The rest of the guys headed to the local Austin group ride today while I packed up last night and headed north to Round Rock for my Kendall Performance Coaching Camp.

Today was the first day and awoke to find some more people backing out. Really people? Why do you wait till an hour before the start to tell me you can't make it. I invest money into this camp expecting a certain amount of people, prep material, and make stuff to give to camp participants then you bail and leave me throwing money away. The way it sits right now I will take a loss on this. From now on there will be a deposit required as soon as you hit that submit button on the registration form.

Other than that the few poeple who did show up were ready to learn and ride. It was a good day, covered material for an hour, then hit the bike for some 4hrs with intensity. Tomorrow two of the guys are getting conconi tests then we are hitting the road for another 4hrs, followed by two more guys getting tested. It will be a long day, so off to bed I go.

Team Rio Team Camp Day 5

Allergies, I've figured it out. I must be allergic to the Cedar. I never have been before, but I woke up feeling bad and took some Claritan and feel better now.

Today I think some of us have realized that eventually we have to go back to CO, put on 5 layers of clothes, and ride in the cold snow. For now though we are loving it down here. Today was a long ride that didn't get stated to late. Not much to report, and yes, still no pics. Tonight is the team night up at the Rio, should be fun. I have to say that all the teams I have been on in the past Pat, the Rio, and everyone with the team has already made this team and year an awesome one.

Tomorrow is another easy day then I head up to Round Rock to prep for my coaching camp that starts on Saturday. www.coachkendall.com/accinfo.html

Team Rio Team Camp Day 4

Still waiting for some of the other guys to post some pics of our rides so I can steal them for my own, but they are slacking.

Today was a hard effort day, about 4hrs of attacking up every climb, then time trialing it till you get caught or a light stops you. We are all down for a nap right now before heading out for some good ole Texas Style BBQ. I think a lot of the guys keep forgetting I grew up here and don't really listen to my input of the area or local knowledge, but one thing they should know about the area is good food. Damn Colorado guys don't know good BBQ cause they never had it in their life up north, but that will change tonight. Well except for Joe, cause he is a vegitarian, not sure what he is going to do.

Team Rio Team Camp Day 3

Day three marks the first recovery day. The ride was really short and didn't happen till about sundown due to plumbing problems around the house, but we got it done. That left the day for some good team bonding. Like wasing the Team van and Rio Truck, yard work, house cleaning, and other activities.

Tomorrow is another intensity day and we have a killer route picked out, should be fun.